US Olympic Trials, Day 6 Finals: Lezak Is Headliner in Men’s 50 Free

By John Lohn

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 12. THE rivalry between Jason Lezak and Gary Hall Jr. will be rekindled tomorrow night, when the sprint-freestyle aces go head-to-head in the championship heat of the 50-meter freestyle.

Lezak, swimming in the first of two semifinal heats, dipped under the 22-second mark, going 21.98. That effort equalled the world's fastest time of 2004 and was easily ahead of Sabir Muhammad, who checked in with a time of 22.20. Lezak won the 100 free earlier in the competition.

Hall won the second semifinal in 22.12, and headed a heat that qualified six athletes for the final, including Ryan Wochomurka (22.36). Also advancing to the championship race were Nick Brunelli (22.50), Dan Gallagher (22.51), Benjamin Wildman-Tobriner (22.59) and Aaron Ciarla (22.60).

PREDICTION: Lezak and Hall blow away the field and bring their rivalry to Athens.

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